Dog Training Isn’t About Obedience. Here’s What Matters Instead
updated: March 31, 2026
Obedience is often treated as the goal or gold standard in dog training. But in truth, focusing on obedience alone doesn’t lead to better behavior.
Because what dogs need isn’t stricter rules or perfect responses, but clarity, guidance, and support in the moments that matter.
The Problem with Obedience
It’s common to hear the word obedience in dog training. But in practice, it reflects an outdated way of thinking—one that centers on control rather than understanding.
As Kim Brophey explains:
“The language we use in dog training—words like ‘obedience,’ ‘compliance,’ and ‘commands’—shapes our expectations and attitudes about behavior, and is part of what drives many of the challenges we see today.”
Dog training isn’t about creating robotic responses. It’s about building a relationship based on clarity, trust, and mutual understanding.
Is Obedience Important?
Nose to the pavement, gathering all the local “p-mail.”
Of course, listening skills matter. But it’s equally important for dogs to have choice.
Consider loose leash walking compared to a formal heel. In one, a dog has the freedom to move, explore, and sniff. In the other, those opportunities are limited.
Unless there’s a safety concern, like a nearby trigger or a tight space, dogs don’t need to be restricted to one position.
This balance between freedom and guidance keeps both dogs and their people less stressed and more relaxed.
What Positive Reinforcement Looks Like
Positive reinforcement means rewarding the behaviors you want to see more of. When your dog does something desirable, like greeting politely or choosing to lie down and relax, you follow it with something they enjoy, such as food, play, praise, or access to something they want.
Training your dog with positive reinforcement makes learning clear, reduces stress, and helps your dog understand how to succeed.
And best of all, it’s an easy concept to understand because humans learn the same way. A child might earn a video game after getting good grades, or an adult might receive a bonus for working hard. In each case, the reward increases the likelihood that the behavior will happen again.
The same is true for dogs. When we reward polite, useful behavior, we make that behavior more likely to repeat. Instead of relying on dominance or power, positive reinforcement gives us a healthier way to communicate with our dogs.
Dog Training Tips that Work at Home
Think of manners training as an exercise in teamwork between yourself and your dog. You don’t need a lot of time to train. Short sessions are perfectly fine.
If there is a behavior that your dog does that you think is rude, train them to do something else instead. For example, for a dog that likes to jump on guests, make it a habit to reward when all four paws remain on the floor. If you have a dog that practically takes you out from behind to rush through the door, then ask them for a sit before releasing them out.
The more consistent you are, the faster the new, desirable behavior becomes habit, which makes your dog’s understanding of your rules and expectations clearer.
Accepting Your Dog for Who They Really Are
Boomer (left) looks proud of the hole he dug. Ginger (right) rolls happily in the grass—possibly in something stinky.
With all this focus on behavior, it’s easy to forget that dogs are still dogs.
They are sentient beings with natural desires to dig, chew, forage, shred, explore, and even roll in stinky things.
But often many of these desires are viewed as incongruous with the rules of the household. So how can we give our dogs an outlet for these desires while still maintaining manners? The answer lies in enrichment.
Embrace your dog’s senses with enrichment.
Instead of going straight, think “sniffari.” Take zig-zag routes or even circles as your dog explores scents left behind by people, animals, and the environment.
Pack some tasty treats to reinforce check-ins and loose leash walking and let fallen leaves serve as nature’s snuffle mat.
Encourage independent play. Add a few drops of fox, squirrel, raccoon, or deer scent to plush toys to spark curiosity.
What Kind of Relationship Do You Want to Have?
In pursuit of perfection, it’s easy to lose sight of what really matters—a well-adjusted, content companion.
When we move away from an obedience-first mindset and focus on clarity, trust, and communication, dogs are more likely to succeed in everyday life.
So the question becomes: what kind of relationship do you want to have with your dog?
✌🏽❤️🐶
